USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 68
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COL. G.H. SE CHEVERELL
MRS. G.H. SE CHEVERELL.
J. H. SE CHEVERELL.
MRS. J. H. SE CHEVERELL.
171
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
was considered one of the " solid wien" of the county. IIc will be remembered perhaps more generally as having been connected with a gift scheme, or lottery, of seventy-five thousand dollar magnitude, designing thereby to dispose of his lands and houses. In this the fates were against him, as they seemed to be ever during the later years of his life. Gradually he took the downward path, friends, warm during his prosperous days, deserted him, and in August, 1864, he closed out, and, taking the remnant of his once ample fortune, removed to Cleveland, where he still resides. It was in a little studio on this plantation that his daughter Carrie (whose portrait appears in another portion of this work) took the first steps in the art of which she is now Ohio's favored one. This property is now owned by Messrs. Aaron and Obed Blanchard, who occupied the factory building for an axe- handle manufactory. This was burned July 25, 1877, and with it the grist-mill, which was owned by Benjamin Kimball. The saw-will had been replaced by a new one. This was saved, and is the only thing left which calls to mind the former scene of bustle and busy life of my boyhood recollections. Frank Cooley operates a carriage-manufactory in the old store building.
The first orchard in Harpersfield was planted by Mrs. Alexander Harper, on their farm, north of Unionville, in the year 1800. This was without doubt the pioncer orchard in this part of the Reserve. There were, in 1877, three hundred and seventeen acres of orcharding, with a product of thirty-five thousand four hun- dred and sixty-five bushels.
STORES.
The first mercantile establishment in the township was opened by Aaron Whee- ler, just east of Unionville village, in 1807. The business at this point at present is the dry goods- and grocery-store of A. S. Hardy, a drug-store by W. H. Pasko, and F. Sherwood's merchant tailoring establishment. At the Centre there were at one time two general stores, two carriage-shops, cabinet-shop, three .blacksmith- shops, hotel, ete. Of the merchants at this point we find the names of F. M. Benham, O. Belding, G. H. SeCheverell, etc. In the grocery trade there were C. C. Gleason, George Shattuck, R. C. Kenney, R. H. Chapman, etc. Evander S. Potter is at present the " Bascom" of these " eross-roads."
THE FIRST MARRIAGE
in this township was undoubtedly that of William Harper and Miss Robinson, the latter a resident of Conneaut, which interesting event occurred on the 25th day of February, 1808.
PHYSICIANS.
The first disciple of Esculapius who graced this township by his presence was Nathan B. Johnson, who emigrated from the land of " wooden nutmegs" (Con- neeticut) in the year 1808. Dr. Johnson was, it is said, an excellent physician, of a constitution well adapted to endure the hardships incident to a pioncer prae- tice. He was a public benefactor, devoting his life to the profession. He died June 6, 1832. Dr. Hotchkiss was another of the pioneer medical staff of HIar- persfield, though both he and Dr. Johnson resided within what is now the town- ship of Geneva. Among physicians of a more recent date we find the names of Jerome Gregory, Jonathan Williams, L. L. Bennett, and D. D. Gist. This town- ship is now without a resident physician. There has been but one resident den- tist in the township. This was J. Hamp. SeCheverell, who began to practice at the Centre in the spring of 1867, continued until July 25, 1877, when he removed to Jefferson, where he now resides.
TIIE FIRST MALE CHILD
born in Harpersfield was a son of Holly and Hannah Tanner, on the 23d day of July, 1799. This was the James Tanner who, in 1852, resided in Kirtland, Lake county, since which time we have no record of his whereabouts.
THE FIRST DEATH.
On the 10th day of September, 1798, Colonel Alexander Harper died. Of this calamity, sorrowful ever, but doubly so to our little band of pioneers, we quote from the finely-written " Tales of our Grandmother," by Mrs. Sherwood : " The funeral obsequies were prepared by his sorrowing friends; a coffin of plank, hewn from one of the forest-trees, was the best that could be procured, and the war-worn soldier was borne to his long home. . . . His was a pioncer grave of the forest. The moaning wind sighed among the trees, and sang the funeral re- quiem, while the hollow sound of interment too surely announced that the body of their beloved friend was committed to the ground,-earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,-there to await the final resurrection. Imagination can scarcely conceive the dread solemnity of this burial ; ' no sable hearse or nodding plume' decked the funeral array, no minister of God pronounced the solemn ritual for the dead, all was dreary, all was desolate. The fading leaves of autumn strewed the solitary mound, as fit emblems of departed goodness and the decay
of dearest hopes." The place of interment on this occasion was on lot No. 32, being the same now occupied for cemetery purposes at Unionville.
The first person buried under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity in Ashta- bula County was that of William McFarland, who, it will be remembered, was one of the first three original settlers. His death occurred on March 30, 1820. James Harper was then W. M. of Temple lodge, and was master of ceremonies on this occasion. The body was interred in the cemetery at Unionville. The next burial of this description was that of James Harper. This was on the 18th day of September following.
The surface of the township of Harpersfield is generally rolling, with a soil principally composed of clay, except along the northern portion, where sand pre- dominates. It is perhaps as productive as the sister townships, is quite a dairy township, and much of the north part is devoted to grape culture. The principal water-course is that of Grand river, which flows from the east in nearly a west course, crossing the east and west centre line of the township some seven times. There are also numerous small streams, but, as they are wholly unimportant, we omit their names. It may interest some to know that at an early day Grand river was " declared navigable," and that to this township belongs the honor of having launched the first " vessel" upon its placid bosom. This boat was built by Ezra Gregory, on his farm, and first cut the water with its well-turned prow in 1799. The launch took place at, or near, the site of the former Gregory (Schil- linger) mills. This craft was thirty-five feet in length and five and a half feet beam. In March, 1800, this boat (which was, we believe, named the " Gregory") began to do a regular shipping business, plying between Painesville and Windsor, transporting the goods of the early settlers,-salt, flour, etc. Another boat, named the " Anstinburg," was built about this time in that township, and also one in Windsor, by George Phelps, after whom it was named. These three con- stituted the " navy" of Ashtabula County at that time.
ORGANIZATION.
In 1807 the territory now comprised in the townships of Hartsgrove, Trumbull, Harpersfield, and Geneva was detached from the township of Richfield, and erected as a new township, to be known by the name of Harpersfield. It was, however, for many years denominated New Harpersfield, to distinguish it from Harpersfield, New York. The first township election was held on April 1, 1807, but the officers elected on this occasion we are unable to give, as the records have been destroyed. The officers for 1877 are H. R. Curtis, Clark Martin, and A. N. Parker, trustees ; E. S. Potter, clerk ; B. F. Luther, treasurer ; H. W. Pangburn, assessor ; J. F. Warring and William Parker, constables ; and twenty-one super- visors. The first justice of the peace was Benjamin Morse. The present incum- bents to that office are A. J. Harper and E. Phillips.
MANUFACTORIES.
The first and only checse-factory in the township was established by William Burget, in the spring of 1873, and has been operated by him until the present. The number of cows contributing the first year was probably two hundred and fifty, from the product of which some fifty-eight tons of cheese were manufactured. E. A. Park, at the " Bee Hive," manufactures butter envelopes, scale boards, " little washers," and whatever else comes in his line. This business has grown to be one of considerable magnitude. L. L. Brakeman has a steam shingle-manu- factory, on the centre road, near the south line of the township. Has also the only undertaking establishment in the township.
There have been at different times numerous saw-mills in the township, but at present there are none.
SOCIETIES.
Grand River Lodge, No. 297, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized under dispensation, in the summer of 1857, and received its charter on the 23d day of October, A.L. 5857. The following are the charter members: G. H. SeCheverell, L. L. Bennett, O. Warner, J. V. A. French, J. H. French, Samuel Cowles, D. Henry, Jr., Elijah Hart, T. J. Wood, James Lockwood, D. Brainard, H. W. Stone, A. C. Osborn, J. Burget, and Benjamin Hartwell. The first officers were G. H. SeCheverell, W. M .; H. W. Stone, S. W .; and Joseph V. French, J. W. The present membership of this lodge is forty. Total number of members since organization, one hundred and seven. The building in which this order convenes is owned by them. The present officers are B. F. Luther, W. M .; Daniel Sumner, S. W .; A. M. Burget, J. W .; A. C. Wilson, Sce .; and R. P. Wolcott, Treas. The stated communications are the first and third Saturdays of each month. The only living charter member now an affiliant with this lodge is David Brainard.
Grund River Grange was organized March 15, 1874, with sixteen eharter members. First officers : A. M. Parker, M .; H. C. Brakeman, L .; Wm. Bur-
43
172
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
get, Treas. ; and N. Bates, Sec. Present officers: A. C. Wilson, M .; L. F. Brakeman, L .; Luther Hawes, Treas. and A.
STATISTICS FOR 1877.
Wheat. acres. 3,340 bushels.
Oats ....
Mi3
24,312
Corn ...
512 29.968
Potatoes ...
319 41
19,014
Mondow.
2018
2,379 tons.
Maple-sugar.
17.864 pounds. =
Cheese
66,060 46
Population for 1870, 1120.
The vote for President in 1876, as given by the report of the seeretary of state, was: Rutherford B. Hayes, 256; Samuel J. Tilden, 40.
This township has an excellent soldier-record, and has from its infancy been celebrated for its patriotism. On July 4, 1812, occurred the first celebration of our national independence in Harpersfield. This was on the farm now owned by Frank Knapp. Dr. Johnson was orator of the day, and Rev. Jonathan Leslie chaplain. Of those present on this occasion the following names are remembered: Major Levi Gaylord, Samuel IIendry, John Brakeruau, Ezra Gregory, Rufus Ilonghton, the Harpers, the Bartholomews, Benjamin Hartwell, the Ilewins brothers, and some twenty Revolutionary soldiers. There was a numerous attendance of women and children from the new settlements. War having been declared with England, the pioneers were filled with enthusiasm, and it is said the orator spoke in terms of "withering scorn of the Tory proclivities of an adjoining township."
The following story is furnished by Charles S. Simonds, and illustrates some of the peculiar characteristics of the early settlers :
JOHN LAMONT, THIE WIZARD.
. " Among these pioneers was one who, although he never became eminent in church or state, yet was at the time a man of more than ordinary intellect among his compeers. Of French descent, with a brawny frame, erect carriage, and more than six feet in height, he had a cold gray eye, solemn visage, and sin- ister aspect ; and, although shrewd and sarcastic, he was always indolent and un- thrifty. Such was John Lamont,-an object of terror to the children and of superstitious awe to the older members of the community. He was a wizard,- so said his Dutch neighbors, and they had no doubt of the truth of their asser- tions. If the leaven failed to rise and a heavy loaf resulted, the unlucky house- wife charged John Lamont with the misfortune. Did the alkali and grease show less than their usual affinity and fail to combine as soap, it was bewitched, of course, and John Lamont bore the blame. There were some who knew that he possessed a familiar spirit, and vouched for the fact that they had seen the uipple from which the imp derived its uourishment. The forest teemed with game, and those men were mighty hunters. The bear, the deer, and the wild turkey furnished their larders. But John Lamont could put a spell upon their rifles, and when the day's hunt proved unsuccessful, or the rifle failed in its usual accuracy, old La- mont bore the blame. Silver was regarded as an antidote, and they often scraped their brooches and Spanish quarters into the crucible, while the lead was in a state of fusion, that the bullets might possess a charm against his ineantations.
" But, fortunately for a people so afflicted, there was a man among them by the name of Tiffany, who was versed in all the charms and counter-ceremonies neces- sary to circumvent and counteract all the incantations of the wizard. And this he followed as a profession. He was often called to exoreise the demon, or to overcome his enchantments. Feeling confident in his power, he often boasted that whoever else might be beset by the wizard, he, at least, would be exempt. Great then was the surprise when it was rumored that Tiffany's sugar-bush was bewitched. His syrup would not grain. Tiffany was indignant. He regarded this as a direct challenge to test their powers, and he resolved upon the most terrible retribution. One of his recipes taught him that if any substance be- witched could be consumed by fire, and the witch could be kept from contact with the substance while burning, that the death of the witch would be inevit- able. Tiffany was calm but confident. He boiled his sugar-water to syrup as usual, and when the day came for " sugaring off," he resolved to exterminate the nuisance. The syrup was placed in the kettle in the usual manner, and then the wood was heaped and the fire stirred around it. While the smoke from this antidote was ascending, as was expected, John Lamont made his ap- pearance, approaching through the woods in apparent agony. Ile begged for a little warm syrup to case his colic pains. But he met with no sympathy. Tiffany was unmerciful. He seized a handspike and drove the sufferer roughly from the camp. The result showed the sugar destroyed and the wizard unharmed. The story got wind, and furnished a theure for wirth to the disbelieving Yankees of the neighborhood."
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN HAMILTON SECHEVERELL.
February 6, 18-11, is the date, and Harpersfield township, Ashtabula County, the place, of the birth of him who is the subject of this sketch. Ilis parents were Gustavus HI. and Mary S"Cheverell. Ile was the youngest son. Receiv- ing a fair common-school education, he early developed a strong predilection for the art epistolary. When he was but fourteen years of age he was engaged in preparing local items for the Forest City Gleaner. This experience served to cultivate a literary taste in Mr. SeCheverell, which has never deserted hitu. In later years he has been a local correspondent for several papers of this and other localities. Ile has written a large number of the township histories for this work, and has evinced an ability for this department of literary labor of no small merit. Careful about his facts, he is accurate in stating them.
In the War of the Rebellion he was among the first of his township to proffer his serviees, and became a soldier in Company B of the indomitable Twenty-ninth. The date of his enlistment was August 19, 1861. He was in the battle of Win- chester, March 23, 1862, and was made prisoner, with others of his comrades, by Stonewall Jackson, at the same place, in the following June. After a brief cap- tivity he was paroled, sent to Washington, and by general order No. 65, adjutant- general's office, June 12, 1862, discharged. Ile came home, regained his health, and July 28, 1863, re-enlisted in Company M, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery. Hle was discharged from service June 23, 1865, at Chicago, Illinois, where he had served as hospital steward of the United States army. Soon after his return home he was united in marriage to Miss L. Ada Alderman, of Hartsgrove town- ship, this county. He was compelled to mourn her death in a little more than a year from the date of their nuptials. Prior to his enlistment he had devoted con- siderable time to the study of dentistry, and upon the death of his wife he repaired to Ypsilanti, Michigan, where, with Messrs. Alderman Brothers, he completed a full course of study, thoroughly mastering the subject of dentistry. Returning to Harpersfield, his old home, he was married to Celia, the youngest daughter of Dr. L. L. and Sophrona Bennett, of that township. The date of this marriage was December 2, 1868. Dr. SeCheverell and his amiable and estimable com- panion have been the parents of three children, two of whom are still living,- Gurleigh Ilamilton, the eldest, born September 11, 1869, and Hugh Bernard, born August 25, 1872. Claude Lorrainne, born April 10, 1870, died May 25, 1872. Dr. SeCheverell prosecuted the duties of his profession for ten years in his native township, when he removed to Jefferson, Ohio, July 25, 1877, where he still resides. He has justly won the reputation of a skillful and reliable den- tist, and is known as a worthy citizen of the unpretending kind. He has been a member of Masonry since 1862, and is at present connected with Tuscan lodge, No. 342, Jefferson, Ohio. He has also for some years been prominently connected with the soldier organization known as the Grand Army of the Republic, and is at present the Commander of Giddings post, No. 7, which holds its sessions at Jefferson, Ohio. He was for six years clerk of Harpersfield township, and filled the office for several years of secretary of Grand River lodge, 297, F. aud A. M. He is at present engaged with the proprietors of this work, and expects to accompany them to other fields of labor.
GUSTAVUS HAMILTON SFCHEVERELL
was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery county, New York, on December 13, 1796. He was the only child of G. H. and Jane SeCheverell, of that point. Ilis father was a teacher, and was drowned in the year 1798, while crossing Lake Ontario in an open boat with a load of merchandise, which he had received for teaching a terwi or two of school in Canada. The mother came to Ohio eventually, and died at the home of the subject of the present sketch, in 1857. Mr., or Colonel, SeCheverell, as he was familiarly called, began life in Madison, Lake county, Ohio, where he remained some two years, and, after a year spent in Unionville, same county, purchased a wild farm in Harpersfield township, and removing thereon, set himself industriously to work subduing the dense forest with which it was covered. Gradually, by dint of hard labor, he acquired a competence, and was induced to invest in one of those whirlpools which have ever proved ruinons to all concerned, viz., a Farmers' Company store. After a time it became a foregone conclusion that under the management then existing a " collapse" must ensue, and thinking that he could " hold the fort," entered into an arrangement with the remaining stockholders, by which he became sole owner, they, however, pledging themselves to " stand by" him until he was " out of the woods." This, as is often the case,
.
butter
62,658
RESIDENCE OF N. H. DICKERMAN, GENEVA , ASHTABULA Co., O.
RESIDENCE OF M. WHARRAM, HARPERSFIELD TP., ASHTABULA CO .. O.
T. B.TULLER'S
LIVER
"TULLER HOUSE. T. B.TULLER, PROPR, GENEVA, ASHTABULA CO., OHIO.
173
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OIIIO.
they failed to do (there was one honorable exception, in the case of Iliram Hickok, who yet resides in Harpersfield), and after vainly fighting against fate for perhaps ten years, was obliged to sneenmb, and his onee ample fortune was swept away, much of it in paying other people's debts. He never recovered from the shock produced by the loss of his property and the perfidy of pretended friends, and died of softening of the brain in December, 1866. Mrs. SeCheverell died De- cember, 1876. Of the life of the colonel, we find that he was a soldier of the War of 1812. Was a life-long member of the Methodist church, for the min- isters of which he always kept open house and an opeu pocket-book. He was a zealous adherent to the principles ineulcated in the order of Freemasonry, having become a member of that society as early as 1819, and received the Royal Arch degrees prior to the time of the insane " Morgan excitement," and throughont all those years maintained his allegiance, and was the founder of Grand River lodge, No. 297, of Harpersfield, of which he was Master for a number of years.
Colonel SeCheverell was united in marriage on January 9, 1817, to Miss Esther Myers. This lady died the following Angust, and in November, 1818, he was again married, to Mary, daughter of John and Hannah Brakeman, of Harpers- field township, this county. From this marriage a numerous family was born to them, as follows, viz .: Lawrence, the eldest, was born December 23, 1819. In 1845 he started for South America, and as no tidings came from him after reach- ing New Orleans, it is presumed that he died before reaching his destination. Prudentia, the next child, was born March 4, 1822. She married Thomas Baxter ; resides in Austinburg. Alfred, born December 31, 1823 ; married Hannah Fore- man ; died in 1859. Jane, married Silas Kellogg ; died in Madison, Lake county, in 1869. Catherine, born October 31, 1829; married John B. Mills; died in 1867. Esther, born 1832; died young. Henry Gustavus, born May 10, 1834; married Marion Elizabeth Knowlton ; died February 4, 1871; and John Ham- ilton, the junior queiuber, was born February 6, 1841 ; married Celia Bennett.
GENEVA TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
THE lands at present embraced within the limits of this township were, at the drawing of the territory east of the Cuyahoga river in 1798, used for the purpose of equalization, and fell by lot to Caleb Atwater, Gideon Granger, and William Hart. Upon the organization of Ashtabula County, Harpersfield township em- braced all the territory now included within the prescribed limits of that township, Geneva, Trumbull, and Hartsgrove. On March 22, 1816, Geneva was detached, and formed into a separate township, of which aetion we find the following eutry on the record of the commissioners of Ashtabula County : " Resolved, that all that part of Harpersfield township north of the north line of number eleven in the fifth range, to the lake, be set off from that township and creeted as a separate town- ship to be known by the name of Geneva, and that the first township election be held at the dwelling-house of Loren Cowles, on the first Monday of April next."
TOPOGRAPHY AND SOIL.
This township is trapezoid in formu, the east line being something over five miles iu leugthi, and the west considerably less. The surface of the township is of a rolling nature, and is crossed from east to west by two small elevations of land, termed the North and South ridges, which run parallel with the lake, and are per- haps one mile apart.
The soil is varied, the ridges being composed of sand, while between them vegetable mould or elay and loam predominate. This township was in early times considered too wet for farming purposes, but by persevering industry much of the land has been brought iuto a profitable state of cultivation.
STREAMS.
There are iu the township two streams of considerable magnitude, besides numerous small runs and rivulets. The first of these streams is, from the "South ridge" to the lake, called Cowles ereek, and derives its naine from Noah Cowles, who was the first white settler near it. This gentleman was also the first settler in what is uow the thriving, go-ahead village of Geneva, the place of his loca- tion being upon the spot now occupied by the residence of R. B. Munger, on North Broadway, north of Railway. Cowles ereck rises in Anstinburg, enters Geneva perhaps one mile from the southeast corner, and passing westerly one mile and one-half, turns northwesterly, and passes in this direetiou to the lake, into which it empties some two miles from the west line of the township. Marsh ereck from the southwest, and Muddy brook from the southeast, discharge their waters into Cowles ereck near its mouth. The next stream is Indian ereek, which enters this township from Saybrook, near the northeast corner, and flows into the lake some two miles east of the mouth of Cowles creek. This stream is called Indian creek from the fact that, upon its west bank, near its mouth, was buried an Indian, named Little John, who, it appears, was a great favorite with not only the aborigines, but with the white settlers. This Indian was killed by a falling tree, at a point now embraced within the limits of Geneva village. Wheeler creek rises in Harpersfield, enters Geneva on the south line near the eentre, passes through the township, and empties into the lake near the uorthwest corner of the township.
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